Living a Cross-Centered Life: Hebrews Chapter Six

Hebrews Week Six – The Certainty of God’s Promise

Congratulations, my sweet sisters in Christ! Today is a day for celebration. You have persevered through the first half of one of the most challenging books in all of Scripture. Thank you for your hard work, commitment, and faithfulness to comment and share your heart. My prayer has been these past six weeks and will continue to be that you are gaining a greater love for and understanding of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We will take some time off over the next few weeks and return on Monday, January 9th. If you find you are behind, this will be a perfect time to catch up without being rushed. If you are caught up, then I pray you will use this time to spend with the Lord in His Word wherever He leads you.

I will be spending time with my family…especially Lauren as she will be home from UGA on Tuesday. I can hardly wait!! I may post a few times during the break, but you will always be able to find the lessons by scrolling down the posts. And please continue to leave comments because I would be so sad if I did not hear from you for three weeks!

Also, if any of you would like to leave a guest post during the break and share something special God has spoken to you during this study, please let me know by e-mailing me.

I will continue to pray for you and want you to know that this has truly been one of my favorite studies. Yes, because Hebrews is rich and wonderful. But also because you girls are such a blessing. I just love how you share and reach out to and pray for one another. It is a beautiful fellowship. I pray each one of you has a blessed and restful Christmas and that you will truly sense the deep and abiding presence of our Lord and Savior….Emmanuel…God with Us!!

Below please find our lesson for this week.

This Week’s Memory Verse: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19a.

This Week’s Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to meet me in Your word each and every week. I especially invite You to be with me this week as I end the first half of my study. Father, give me an abundance of Your wisdom and knowledge, give me discernment to find the treasures hidden in this last chapter. Every week has been so challenging. I have struggled to understand, yet You have been faithful. Week after week, You are teaching me who Jesus really is. You are teaching me how to live a cross-centered life, one that focuses my heart and mind on Jesus… what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will. Keep me anchored in His Hope…never let me drift away.

Tender my heart to worship Him in the fullness of Who He is. Instill in me a desire to be still and truly know and feel His Presence. Give me rest in the midst of busyness. Give me peace in the midst of chaos. Father, empower me to live out all that I have learned. I ask this in Jesus’ Holy and Majestic Name. Amen.

Assignment: Read Hebrews Chapter Six

Homework Questions:

1. Read Hebrews 6:1-3.

In Hebrews 6:1 we find the fifth “let us” verse (others are 4:1, 4:11, 4:14, 4:16). What does the author say we must do?

List the elementary teachings to which he refers. When you are finished, rate your understanding of each of these teachings on a scale of 1 to 5.

Think of a mature believer in your life. What is the evidence you see in his or her life that exhibits spiritual progress?

2. Examine your life over this past year.

Have you made spiritual progress in this past year? If yes, share how. If no, why not?

What steps will you take this next year to go deeper still in your spiritual growth? By the way, participating in a Bible study is a sure sign you are going deeper in your spiritual journey!

3. Read Hebrews 6:4-6.

List the spiritual experiences of “those” spoken of here.

Read Numbers 13:1-14:12. How is this passage similar to what we read today?

4. In verse 6, the author arrives at his next warning.

Reread Hebrews 4-6 and write this warning in your own words.

What is impossible and why?

Do you read this to mean someone can lose their salvation?

The scholars, who teach that these verse speak to Christians, contend believers can lose their salvation.

Read John 10:27-29 and Romans 8:35, 38-39. How do these verses speak to the argument that one can lose their salvation?

5. What do you think the author means when he writes it is impossible once a person has fallen away to return because it is “crucifying the Son of God all over again?”

6. Read Hebrews 6:7-12.

The author’s illustration is that all those who hear the gospel are like the earth. Explain what it says in your own words. For a similar illustration, read Luke 8:4-15.

Looking back at the two groups in Hebrews 6:7-8, to which group is the writer of Hebrews speaking in verses 9-10?

To which group would you say you belong?

7. List evidence of a believer’s salvation…the fruit of her faith…found in verses 9-12.

What word in verse 10 describes the motive behind a believer’s work?

It is important to remember, it is not our works that save us or keep us saved. But they are evidence of our salvation. Read James 2:14-25. What does this passage add to our discussion?

There is a balance between God’s gift of grace and human effort. We cannot earn God’s favor. We cannot earn salvation. Yet at the same time, the entire New Testament contains clear teachings that how we live after salvation…what we do for the Kingdom…matters to God a great deal. Scripture teaches that He created us to do good works.

Read Ephesians 2:8-9. What does it say?

Read Philippians 2:12-13. What does Paul teach here?

8. In Hebrews 6:12 the author again speaks to the unbelievers in his audience. He again addresses laziness and directs them to examine the lives of the believers in their midst and imitate them. What two words does the author use to characterize believers?

Friend, the beginning of our faith journey, although important, matters not as much as how we live out our faith each and every day.

9. Read Hebrews 6:13-16. Scripture teaches us to trust in the Lord.

Read Psalm 37:3-5 and Proverbs 3:5-6. What do they say about trusting the Lord?

The author of Hebrews sets forth Abraham as a model of great faith to his audience. If you would like to go deeper on this subject, read Romans Chapter 4 where Paul speaks of Abraham’s example of faith in depth.

10. In this chapter, the author sets out to prove God is trustworthy because of Who He is. What proof does He set forth in verses 13 and 14?

Everytime God makes a promise, He puts His character on the line. Read 2 Timothy 1:12, Titus 1:2, and James 1:17. What do these verses teach about God’s character?

Every one of God’s promises is secured by His character. He is unchanging…the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do you have something for which you have been patiently waiting…something for which you need to trust Him today? Review the truths of this lesson and prayerfully surrender it to Him today. Trust Him to be faithful with that which you have given Him. [See 2 Timothy 1:12 for encouragement].

11. Read Hebrews 6:17-20.

In Hebrews 6:18, what are the “two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie?”

Read Plsam 102:25-27, Hebrews 1:10-12, Hebrews 13:8. How do these verses support the author’s teaching?

12. Read Hebrews 6:19-20. In these final two verses, the author of Hebrews says “be encouraged because Jesus is your hope.” He is the full assurance of hope.

To what does the author compare hope in verse 19?

Why does he use this comparison?

When Jesus came, he ushered in a new way. Luke 23:44-46 speaks of the very moment Christ sacrificed his own life to make the last and final atonement for sin. Read it and share what it says. Read Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, and Hebrews 1:3, 12:2 and share what they say.

13. How has Jesus been an anchor in your life?

14. Let’s review for a moment. Throughout the past six chapters, the author has methodically presented his case. He exhorts his audience to go on to maturity. He sees many of them as stagnant, not growing in their faith. As part of his message, he issued many warnings.

Review and list the warnings (Hebrews 2:1-4, 3:7-13, 5:11-14)

What is the best way to avoid all of these warnings? Hold firmly to the ______________.

Read Romans 8:35-39. Write it below.

How does it make you feel to know that God loves you unconditionally and to know that in Him your life is secure?

What woud change in your life if you did not have that as your assurance?

Comments

Hi, everyone. i thought I will just pop by as I am a little behind, I am only on chapter5 now. Previously I said I rejoice when I am well and trust when the bipolar is bad. Well it is very bad now and I really need your prayers please as I am in the deepest hole possible. I would love to read all the comments, but at the moment I feel pressured all the time and cannot get calm and relaxed enough to do it. I have this constant feeling that I should be doing something else than what I am.

I hope to catch up over Christmas as for us we always celebrate just the two of us. I have loving children, but it is not possible for them to be here. Lots more I do not want to burden you with. I feel as if I have been on the “meat” and have gone back to the “milk” please pray for me,

Father, Your daughter Margriet needs You right now. Please allow her to feel Your presence in a way that is palpable to her. That leaves her knowing full well that she has just experienced Your presence in a profound way. Lord, it’s not easy being so far from our family during this Christmas season, we look around at those surround with family and friends and long for that as well. Please fill her home with joy and laughter as she and her husband celebrate the birth of their King, Jesus Christ. Allow them to focus this Christmas treasuring the time alone they get to have. Thank You for being more than enough for each of us. Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Amen.

Margriet, Please don’t feel bad about not being able to read all the comments! Read what you can, when you can, they aren’t going anywhere. You can also subscribe to them and they will be emailed to you as they are posted, if that is easier for you to handle. Praying for you sister!

Joining each of these sisters in praying for you. May the Light of Christ shine into the darkness in your heart and may the peace of Christ wash over your heart and fill you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. As you are in His Word, I pray it will do as He promises and bring health to your body and healing to your bones. May you know in all its fullness the mind of Christ as you move forward in faith that He is with you, cares for you, and will never leave you or forsake you.

Magriet… oh my sweet friend. I can’t imagine how difficult this trial is. I am so very sorry.
Heavenly Father,
I’ve only heard stories of how immensely difficult it is to live with bipolar disorder. When I think of the chemical imbalances and the intricacies of our bodies, it’s enough to completely overwhelm me. But for You Lord, it doesn’t worry You. Everything is completely able to come under Your order. In Jesus’ Name, balance the chemicals in Magriet’s body. As Wendy prayed, let Your light overwhelm the darkness in her soul. Bless our sister and heal her. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!
xoxoxo

ip rayed for margaret as well. I wish i could close my eyes and sleep through Christmas. As much as I know that its all about His birth, and about family etc, i have young kids that are expecting santa, how do we explain this ? We have been in hard seasons of life and i feel like we are stuck. my husband has no job and its not looking hopeful either. we do have a roof over our head which is good but without a job that will be gone also. what in the world is God up to? how can it be his will to starve ? and watch my 4 kids struggle. i know the answer i keep getting is that they will be blessed to have a godly mom. they are blessed but they need substANCE and food and clothing and christnas to come. as of right now we are not having it at all.

I’m praying the same prayer as Wendy prayed for you this morning. God is there for you in the midst of everything that you are dealing with. No matter how difficult it gets, he will never leave you or forsake you.

Sweet Kim,
I stand in agreement with Kim and Suzanne. You are so right that your kids are incredibly blessed to have a godly Mom. Abba Father, Jehovah Jireh… Kim is seeking Your kingdom and righteousness first… Please add her daily needs and every ounce of provision her family needs unto them. We will praise You at the top of our lungs! In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!
xoxo

Kim-
Your question of~ how can it be his will to starve ? and watch my 4 kids struggle ~ made me think of the book Case for Faith by Lee Strobel…there are some very compelling question it and one was something along the lines of why does God let children die….very very good insight, or so I thought. My local library does carry it so you could check to see if they have it or if your church has a library see if they have it. I would encourage you to read it. I live with a unbelieving husband and I know sometimes it can get frustrating to have scripture given to you but not with any ways to apply it to your life. With love…

Hi, Kim! I have held you and your precious family in my heart for a while now, and each time God brings you to mind, I stop and pray that God will minister to you during this especially rough time, and t.hat you would feel His almighty presence and abiding sense of love and security surrounding you.
You see, I totally understand and empathize with your situation and feelings right now. I have watched my sweet husband for the last 5 years work himself to a frazzle in a family business that is not making any money (it is real esate in a very economically depressed town in SC). He has had severe and chronic fibromyalgia for 10 years (pain in every area of his body, from his scalp down to his toes (is on 4 different pain meds at one time that enable him to just move his body out the door to work each day). In addition, he is on 5 blood pressure meds that just the stress of this particular job job has caused to fluctuate up recently. His is 60 years old, and thus, too old to begin another job at this juncture in his life, when he should be considering retirement!
I wish that circumstances permitted you and me to get together and become prayer partners in person, but we can at least pray for each other through this study. My heartfelt wish is for you to hold tightly to your hope in Jesus, just as it is for myelf. I love you, dear sister in Christ, and wish you a most Jesus-filled Christmas! Blessings in Christ,

Dear Kim, I am only now able to reply. God is so good. We did not know what we are even going to eat at Christmas and He provided. Someone gave us a LARGE corned beef and by using it wisely we had lovely meals for a week! I am praying that things are lifting up for you as well. As for me, I will probably be going to hospital, but I still hope that the extra medication will help.

Margriet, also praying for you that our Sweet Master will continue to pour out his love on you and also praying for Kim please just keep it in your heart that with an everlasting love our Lord has loved you and you are the apple of his eye. Kim do not give up the answer is very near our Dad is near he promises that when you come to the end that’s where he begins.

Wendy once again I thank you for this encouraging bible study that’s bringing all of us Jesus girls close to our Father. Wendy as I was doing questions 2 where you were asking us to examine our spiritual growth I believe to a certain level i have grown in the following areas: –
1. Forgiveness – I have had to make the most difficult decision of forgiving the unforgivable people who were very close to me and after taking this step of faith it has actually set me free though I am still struggling to come to terms in understanding how our Lord can allow bad things to happen to us his children. Wendy I feel a part of me was lost but I still believe in his time our Lord will restore to me my happiness. I have let go and I also came to realize that there is power in forgiving.
2.I have grown in the word and I can now actually choose to live God’s truth as compared to my feelings.
3. Thankfulness – Wendy i have learnt to be more thankful right from a simple meal
4. In the areas of sin yes nobody is perfect but during this past year my Lord has let me experience grace it has been more of grace the more I felt I sinned the more grace was increased. I now know there is grace available to us his children.
5.I have studied more than 3 bible studies including the hearty of Mighty warrior, All things wise and wonderful, the study of the book of Esther including this one. Wow

What an inspiring video! Thank you, Wendy. Jesus is with us every day of our lives. He is our intercessor and the guardian of our soul. We can enter into the presence of God any time we want. This privilege is our right as a child of God. How comforting! Our security comes through Jesus, our anchor. He is “a strong and trustworthy anchor for our soul”. God’s promise, “oath”, is unchanging — no matter our circumstances, no matter what is happening in this world. I cling to this anchor of hope and relish the peace it brings. Thank you for reminding us of who our God is and what He does for us.

Praying for both of our sweet sisters……….. Margriet & Kim and for all the women in this wonderful Bible Study. Christ You are Lord and King – You are enough for us. Through every trial and every test – Lord You are enough. And Lord I pray that we will cling to You in our difficulties, when we can’t see our way and when we don’t understand how you’re working. We know and we can stand on this fact – You are a God who Never fails and we can trust You! Our hope is in You! We all come to You in this season and we Thank You for sacrificing Your Only Son for our sins.

We understand that our trials and tests are common to man, so many in this world are experiencing hard times but You are Jehovah Jireh our provider and We Thank You and we Love You. We cast every care on You today because You care for us and You are our High Priest who understands everything we go through. Let your peace rest upon us! Let us find joy in You! In Jesus Precious Name ~ Amen

Merry Christmas to you all ~ Thank you Wendy for your sweet, sweet spirit and the love you show to us all in this Bible Study. We all love you and pray for you daily.

Merry Christmas to all of you! And my prayers go out to those of you who have struggles of various kinds this season. May God help you find the “joy” in the midst of the struggle.

I have always had great difficulty understanding how “those who have been once enlightened” are “crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” I know this was one of our study questions — and I really don’t have a clue, but want to know the answer. I looked in my study notes at the bottom of the page in my bible, and — surprisingly — the authors of those notes must not have wanted to tackle the question either. There was nothing written about Hebrews 6:6. Does anyone have any thoughts on what this verse means? KK

I address this lesson in my teaching…what I can’t remember if I address it on this video or on my live teaching here in Charlotte. After you watch the video and do your homework, let me know if you would like more clarity, and I will try to help. it is a GREAT question and one that even the most learned of scholars cannot agree. I will tell you after all my research, I fall on the side that once we are saved we cannot lose our salvation. There are verses in your homework this week that speak to this very issue.

Wendy — I also agree that we cannot lose our salvation. My question is this — If the people the Hebrews author is talking about have never been saved, only been enlightened — then, how is it that they are “crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to pubic disgrace?” Is it because they have “claimed” to be washed by His blood, but would have to accept His cleansing “all over again” if they actually became Christians? I just don’t understand how they are “crucifying Him all over again” if the blood of Christ has never been applied to them the first time. Don’t be afraid to refer me to a good commentary. I’m sure the answer is a simple one. When you tell me, I’ll say, “Of course! Why didn’t I see that!” Thanks for your help! 🙂 KK

Hi Karen!
This may or may not help… I think it really just reiterates what Wendy taught in her video, but you might be interested in this link:http://www.gotquestions.org/Hebrews-6.html
It’s kinda funny… after you read the link and re-read what you wrote, basically you’ll find that you could have been the author of the commentary… you’ll see what I mean 🙂
Big hugs…
xoxo

I have been using Blueletterbible.org and it’s commentaries to help me understand these few verses in Hebrews. One thing it said was falling away isn’t just falling into some sin it’s departing from Jesus. An example they gave to show the difference is Peter & Judas. It also asked the question if one falls does it mean the can’t repent and it went on to say that if one does repent that in itself is evidence that they have not truely fallen away/departed from Jesus. One more thing I read was “The idea isn’t that if you fall away you can’t come back to Jesus ever but that if you turn your back on Jesus don’t expect to find salvation anywhere else. Anyway I really just wanted to give you a lead of maybe somewhere you could do some more research into these verses. 🙂 Merry Christmas

Wendy, I am enjoying this study so, so much, and am going to miss it terribly during the break! (I know how important it is, though, to have that special break over Christmas, to enjoy family, rest, etc.) I go to bed each night, excitedly anticipating my time in the Word with you each morning. I discipline myself to ration out the questions, so that they last me the full week!

I am interested to see what different people think of the verses in Hebrews 6:4-6. I have never really thought of this concept before, always having felt that salvation can’t be lost. However, even reading those other verses in Romans 8, losing salvation sounds possible. But then again, I have always thought that God was a God of second chances. I would love to hear some others’ thoughts on this.

In dealing with questions 4 and 5, it’s also my belief that we cannot ever loose our salvation. We can certainly fall back into a life of sin however, such as what we’ve been saved out of. The way out of that is to repent of that life of sin, not to ask to be “saved again” . To say we need to be saved again is to say that Jesus’ blood shed at Calary’s cross wasn’t strong/good enough.
His blood took away the sins of the whole world. All the new testament believers’ sins were ‘in the future’ when He died on the cross. They were all dealt with at the same time. So the sins we commit after being saved were taken care of at the same time as our sins before we were saved. Asking to be saved again is impossible. It makes a mockery of that great sacrifice that was made once for all, saying it fell short of total forgiveness.
Repenting of the rebellion against God while under His grace and mercy is what is needed for restoration, not more blood. It is us that fall short, not Jesus’ blood.
That’s the only way I can make all the verses fit together without contradicting any other verses in God’s word. I’d like to hear what others think.

We, as christians, fail (or “sin”, if you will) on a regular basis and God forgives us when we ask for his repentence. I do, however, also believe that there are those who fall so far back into sin that they need to once again ask Jesus to “save them”. Unfortunately, I also believe that if Christ would return while they are living this sinful life, that they may miss the opportunity of Heaven in it’s fullness. The important thing here is to keep your eyes on Jesus and be sure to repent daily of those areas that need taken care of between us and Him. I may have this all wrong, but thought I would share what I believe and hope it helps.

Judi, I agree with you totally and I think you explained it very well. I firmly believe we CANNOT loose are salvation. We can and do fall back into sin on a regular basis, but that sin is ALWAYS forgiven. We repent of the sins we know that we committed, but forgiveness extends to all the times (and there are many) that we sin and are not even aware of it.

Lori I think that you made a great point with keeping our eyes on Jesus and repent daily (or as soon as we are convicted of sin) I have a hard time with thinking that we can in any way “loose” are salvation. I am not good at remembering verse numbers but I know it talks somewhere about only one sin blasphemy against the Holy Spirit being the only unforgivable sin. So I don’t see how once saved we could not be…even if you asked to be unsaved (not that I would ever understand why someone would do that)…..Jesus says NO ONE can snatch us out of his hands….not Satan, sin or every ourselves……

I would like others thoughts on this topic……it is really a very important matter.

Thanks Sisters for all your comments…..i am so blessed to have found this site…….

Thanks for your comments. That makes alot of sense. I have struggled with the seeming contradiction but what you wrote makes sense. I have a child who has turned his back on God and I didn’t want to accept that he couldn’t be forgiven.

Judi — I understand what you are saying. I’m still having difficulty with the concept of “crucifying the Son of God all over again.” Were these people in Hebrews claiming salvation — falling into sin — assuming they had lost their salvation — and then, asking God to save them again. Was this a pattern and practice that the author of Hebrews was trying to discourage? I totally agree with what you say! I’ve seen people get baptized 3 — 4 — or more times, because they were unsure of the validity of their initial moment of salvation, due to the sinfulness of their lives after salvation. So — I understand and agree with you. Is this an example of what we are seeing here in Hebrews 6?

Hi girls, there is a reason theologians and commentators refer to this as one of the most difficult passages to understand.

According to John MaCArthur’s Commentary, this passage speaks to Jews who had had moved from Judaism right up to the edge of Christianity. They had turned from their old ways. They had begun to turn tward God. They learned all they could and there was nothing more they needed to fully surrender to Christ. But they would never take that last step of surrender.

He explains that those in that situation who fell away and departed from the Christian community had no hope of restoration. He writes that when a person rejects Christ at the peak experience of knowledge and conviction, he will not accept at a lesser level, and salvation becomes impossible.

And to the language “crucifying the Son of God all over again,” he says regardless of what they may still have been professing openly and publicly, they now took their stand with Jesus’ crucifiers on Calvary. In their hearts, they were agreeing with the verdict given that day on Calvary. Those of which the author of Hebrews was speaking held a trial in their heart and mind and, with all the evidence possible, decided He was not the true Messiah. To them Jesus was an imposter and deceiver and got exactly what was coming to Him. They agreed with those who killed Jesus, and, thus, they put Him to an open shame again.

Basically, he is saying that when anyone has heard the gospel and then turns away, he has done exactly what the Jews at the time of the crucifixion did. He has rejected Jesus with full knowledge of who He is.

Now remember, this is one commentator’s opinion. But it does seem to be the opinion of the majority of commentators.

Thanks so much, Wendy. It is difficult to understand. I’m going to read thru your post a few times and make some sense of it though. John MacArthur is one of my favorites — a man to be trusted, I think. Blessings to you and your family this Christmas! KK

I fail to see how the following words and phrases can be used to describe someone who’s not saved… “HAVE BEEN enlightened; TASTED the heavenly gift; SHARED in the Holy Spirit; TASTED the goodness of the word of God… If you go to a restaurant, can you taste or share their food before buying it? I find these words describe what I’m doing daily since receiving my salvation from God. That would NOT describe me after I heard the gospel but before I accepted the gift. Just my perspective…

I didn’t have time to come to your website earlier. This week I’m having a major lower back pain crisis, have needed ER a couple of times. I’m in my relative’s home, in Brazil’s capital (Brasilia).
Please pray I can get better soon. I need to get a flight back to Recife, where my parents live, in a few days.
You are right. This chapter IS a hard one. I really need to go through your video AGAIN. I didn’t understand most of what I read in the first part of the chapter. I didn’t understand part of what you said in the video. When I’m in pain, I have problems with any foreign language I know. Only my portuguese works, Lol!
I will go through the video again today, and I will read the chapter another time. If I have any question, I will let you know.

Me too… praying for relief of your pain. Were you able to get back to Recife? I’m blown away by you and our other sisters who are so amazing in more languages than their main one. When I’m in pain, I can’t think straight in the one and only language I know 🙂
xo

Praising God that you’re feeling better! I have to tell you… your English is NOT awful… quite the opposite. I’d never know it wasn’t your first language. I’m putting the 21st in my Blackberry so I can pray over your flight. xoxo

Hi friends,
Please cont to pray for my husband. He cont to be in awful pain w/leg…going to MD 1-2 x every wk and been in hosp 3x in last 4 mos. Needless to say, I have some catching up to do…hopefully during the break.
May you all have a blessed Christmas,
Carol

Heavenly Father, please bring healing and respite to Carol’s husband’s pain. Going to the doctor multiple times and being hospitalized almost every month can be incredibly draining and completely overwhelming. Please give both Carol and her honey Your peace that surpasses understanding through these times. Please bring lasting healing in Jesus’ Name. Let Your amazing presence flood them with joy regardless of their trials today. Through it all, give them the gift of growing more intimate in their marriage and more intimate with You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen!
Sending you a huge hug Carol!
xoxo

Blessings to you all and please know that I too unite with your prayers for each other. How blessed I am to be among this group. In this short time, the wisdom and understanding that I have gained is helping sustain me in a difficult moment. Once again my daughter did not pass her Physical therapy boards after much prayer and focus on our God and Savior. However, like I said, the understanding I have gained has helped me to grab firmly on my faith with acceptance, not looking to fully understand however embracing in the hope of our Lord to see us through this. I am striving to be an example to our daughter and hope that God will provide an open door as she takes her test in January. If she does not succeed then ,she must wait a year to retake the test and will have to cancel her wedding. So much at stake, therefore we would be very appreciative if you would pray for her. Thank you in advance!

Dear Cheryln your faith (and your daughter’s) is being tested. Everytime life doesn’t work out the way we want it to, we have a choice to make. We can either try to bend and tweak things (in other words, try to manipulate) or we can commit it to prayer and let it all unfold the way God wills it to. You’re making the right choice to accept this situation as the way God determines it. He knows the future as well as the past so keep trusting His ways with joy and thanksgiving for all we have in Him!

Wow… how I agree with Judi! I’m praying that both you and your daughter have the most intimate times seeking God’s beautiful presence, that His joy would flood your souls… and that you would both courageously seek His will- whether it means being long suffering in this current pursuit, or whether it means a different path. I’m excited to hear what God unveils through this process. What a beautiful Mom you are Cheryln!!!!!
xoxo

Judi and Noelle,
Thank you so much for you kind words. Blessings to you both as you have inspired me. What a lovely thought about the intimate times my daughter and I are having seeking God’s will together
! This I will treasure! It makes the journey well worth it and the excitment of his joy filling our souls! Today we sing at Church “Forever I will sing the goodness of our Lord”! Yes I will! How wonderful to be getting to know him more deeply with my sisters in Christ through this study!!! Thank you Wendy!

Merry Christmas to all,
I just finished chapter 5 and wanted to share on question 11 what Hebrews 5:14 means in my own words. Deeper truths, more revelation, greater understanding are for the mature believer, who by reading the Word, applying the Word, living out my faith boldly before others, trusting in the Holy Spirit guidance, prayer, listening to my Father, fellowshipping with other believers, I am able to choose the right path and the right way. I want solid food-it satisfies my soul, it makes me want more! God is telling me He has given me solid food, now trust Him. He is Faithful!

When reading about works, I am reminded by my Jesus that our works are done for His glory and His glory alone. There are so many nonbelievers (like many celebrities) who are involved in amazing charitable work. The big difference between them and us, as believers, is that they do it for their own glory. Our works may be out there in the public for all to see and notice, but often they are small and seemingly insignificant things, especially as wives and mothers who are busy keeping the home and raising men and women of God for the next generation.

Oh wow Alex thanks for bringing the fact that my charitable works are keeping busy at home and raising my son and daughters to be children of God for the next generation. That was a revelation to me! Sometimes I forget how important that job really is.

Hi there ladies I am currently on number 3…I am a bit confused and wondering if the verses for Numbers is correct…if they are what I am not seeing, how are these similar to Hebrews 6:4-6? Thanks for your help…

Hilary, the NLT Online study BIble note says,” This passage, one of the most difficult in the NT, gives a harsh warning about those who have left the Christian faith. Those who have fallen away from Christ and the church are like those who fell in the wilderness.” The Numbers passage is about when they sent out the spies and when they came back, only Joshua and Caleb wanted to take the land. God was going to destroy them because of their unbelief, but Moses asked Him not to again. And He said they would wonder in the wilderness for 40 years. They had seen the miracles God had performed and still didn’t believe Him. Anyway, the people the writer of Hebrews was talking to were like these people, if they turned away from Christ. He is the only means of repentance. I don’t think this is saying we can lose our salvation. The verses Wendy gave us and others prove that. A another one in Eph. 1:13. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God when we trust Jesus for our salvation. Hope this helps.

Thanks Brenda! I figured out why I was so confused…I miss read the verses I was suppose to read I thought it was Numbers 13:1-14…and the chp 12…that’s why I was confused, but even after reading the correct verses I do appreciate your explanation to help me better understand.

So… I’ve been spending a fair amount of time on verses 1-3, question 1. I originally wanted to breeze through that thinking, “Of course I know these things! I’m a meat eater, not a milk drinker!” But as I dug deeper into each point, I realized that I need to revisit some of the basics on a daily level.

Case in point- at the risk of sounding foolish- the words used for “repentance” are not defined as “turning from sin” as I had assumed for all these years. The words used are defined as “to change one’s mind.” Yes I am blessed that years ago I had repented- I changed my mind TO Jesus as opposed to being indifferent or unbelieving. But now in my day-to-day life when I start my morning with my quiet time, I find myself “repenting” on the same issues- mainly when it comes to my patience with my family. If I’m being completely honest, saying “sorry” and asking for forgiveness is very different than truly changing my mind on the issues. I have no idea if I’m making an ounce of sense given I’m on my first cup of coffee and this is pre-workout… but it’s something I’ll be mulling over and asking for divine intervention on. I want to be a new creation with a changed mind!!!

I’m praying that each of you have a RICH Christmas filled with the intimacy only Jesus can bring. Whether you’re in a happy season of your life, or whether you are at a base of a mountain with a long climb ahead. May it be rich. Hugs to you girls!!!

That’s a good point you make Noelle. In spite of initially repenting to God of our sins and henceforth being forgiven and saved, our sin-proned human nature is still at work in us causing us to sin daily. We have every intention of avoiding these particular sins (that so easily beset us, as we’ll get to in chapter 12 verse 1) but yet we continue to fall short of ‘perfection’ and need to daily confess them.
Remember when Jesus was washing the disciples’ feet in John 13? When Peter wanted Jesus to wash more/all of him Jesus said “a person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.” I don’t believe God wants us to beat ourselves up. Rather, being aware of our sins and continuing to confess them keeps us in a place of proper humility, giving God the glory for His great love and mercy to us.

Hi, Sisters! I have read and re-read Many times Hebrews 6:4-6, each of your responses as detailed above, plus 5 or so different commentaries by well-known men of God, and I am still totally confused! In fact, I am so confused that I have let Satan (theauthor of confusion) clap his greedy little hands with glee over the past week, as I have become so stuck thatI have not moved past this question yet!! Help! Could you please help push me out of this boat of confusion? Thanks and blessings for a wonderful Christmas.

Janet,
I personally liked Brenda’s comments on these verses and yes, I too found these passages confusing. However, as in School when we get stuck on a problem, we are encouraged to move on and we may be inlightened as we work on other problems or verse as the case here. Blessings to you as we continue to seek God’s wisdom!

One of the things that came to my mind when reading Hebrews 6:4-6, after watching Wendy’s video and after reading some commentaries, was the statistic which says that 75% of Americans claim to be Christian. I would love for that number to be true! But just looking at the people I interact with on a daily basis, I can’t see how that number is accurate. I think that means that 75% of Americans go to church sometime during the year… or they wear cross jewelry… or something in that arena 🙂

It would make more sense to me that Hebrews 6:4-6 and the generous statistic above points to the 2nd and 3rd soils of Matthew 13’s parable. They have heard and tasted the truth of the gospel, but it hasn’t actually taken true root. If that’s the case, it makes sense to me that it can be impossible to bring them back to repentance… in that, they heard the glorious message… they tasted the sweet fruit… but in the end they STILL turned their backs.

Girls… I have a prayer request. I have a few people in my life who are going to have a somber Christmas. Would you lift them up in prayer? Specifically Alli and her family who lost their 12 year old to a car accident 4 months ago; Audry who will have her 1st Christmas without her Mom; Corina who buried her Mom 2 years ago Christmas day. In my household, we are counting down the days with elation. But I can’t lose sight of these precious friends of mine who are nearing Christmas with deep pain. Thank you 😉

Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to be Immanuel, God With Us. We pray together as a sisterhood of saints and boldly ask you to be Immanuel in full force in the lives of Alli and her family, Audry, and Corina. Lord Your Word promises blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Father, we pray that each of your children lifted here would know the fullness and richness of that comfort. Send Your ministering angels to care for them and to comfort them. Your Word says You know every tear we cry. Father, gather their tears. During this difficult season, restore to them the JOY of their salvation. Every day send precious reminders of Your Love and precious Presence. Fill them with wonderful memories. Bring people across their paths to provide them with the words they need to hear. We thank You, Lord, that You know their pain more than anyone else and You will cover it with Your healing balm. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to be Immanuel, God With Us. We pray together as a sisterhood of saints and boldly ask you to be Immanuel in full force in the lives of Alli and her family, Audry, and Corina. Lord Your Word promises blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Father, we pray that each of your children lifted here would know the fullness and richness of that comfort. Send Your ministering angels to care for them and to comfort them. Your Word says You know every tear we cry. Father, gather their tears. During this difficult season, restore to them the JOY of their salvation. Every day send precious reminders of Your Love and precious Presence. Fill them with wonderful memories. Bring people across their paths to provide them with the words they need to hear. We thank You, Lord, that You know their pain more than anyone else and You will cover it with Your healing balm. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Noelle, I believe as you do, that these verses speak of professed believers who almost come to the place of faith in Christ, but turned back in unbelief. Just like the spies at Kadesh-Barnea, though they saw the promised land they turned back in unbelief. The Word didn’t take root as the Parable of the Sower says.

I will pray for your friends. Christmas can be sad for people who have lost loved ones. I have a friend who lost her son to suicide three yrs ago today.

Oh Brenda, I can’t begin to imagine what your friend has been going through and the heartache she continues to face. I’m praying for her now. If there are pieces of false guilt or ongoing questions in her heart and mind that wonder if she’d done things differently, then maybe there would be a different outcome… if there’s a heavy darkness weighing her down… I’m praying that God would help her to release that to Him and that He would fill her with His incomprehensible compassion, healing, light and love.

THANK YOU for your prayers.

May God shower you with His riches this Christmas and in the new year.

OH MY GOODNESS! I am still on chapter 6:4-6. I am staying here for awhile and surrounding myself with commentaries and asking for God’s wisdom. This stuff is so deep and can be so very, very confusing, yet it is bringing me closer to HIM! 🙂 I keep reading this over and over and over again. I don’t see how the person described in verses 4 & 5 has not had a conversion experience. This sounds like a born again, saved believer that has fallen away from the faith……….It’s hard to wrap my head around that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to be brought back to repentance. From what I’m reading, It sounds like a persons heart becomes so hardened that they are unable to respond or listen to the Holy Spirit?……I do believe that salvation can be lost either by completely rejecting Christ or by falling so far into sin that you no longer include Him in your life………I realize by reading comments that I’m in the minority here. I am truly trying to see the other side and I enjoy reading everyone’s opinions, comments and points of view. This is good stuff Wendy! Thank you for this study and for giving me the opportunity to grow closer to my Savior. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! And I will keeping working this puzzle around in my head. :0)

I have not yet started chapter 6 but I have been so blessed since starting this study with a greater understanding of Jesus. I have been actively praying for my husband and his faith as well. He is a catholic school teacher and I have wanted to give Jesus a greater presence in our home. Through my readings and some sermons, I regularly listen to, God has given me the direction to focus on my own role as wife and mother and example I need to be – my own behaviors definitely needed some work. I started to really focus on this about 6 weeks ago but I noticed my husband actually started to pull away rather than come closer. Christmas eve we got into a discussion which carried into Christmas day and I think he is moving towards separation. I am writing this to reach out for your prayers. I can’t share this with my family as I’m afraid about his reaction. We had our parents here last night for Christmas and I could only think that it might be our last holiday altogether. We have a wonderful 7 year old son and are waiting for news of an adoption from China which we applied for a year ago. I know God is in control and I’m surrendering to him on an hourly basis but this is so painful. I definitely felt his direction to go down this adoption path but why would He have done so if my marriage was going to fall apart and we wouldn’t get her anyway? The things my husband said about me were so horrible it broke my heart but he refuses to go to counseling. I’m reaching out to a Christian marriage counsellor myself. Please pray for me and my family.

Thank you for your prayers. So hard to just focus on one day at a time right now but I am so touched by everyone’s openness and honesty on this site. Trying to stay close to God and today I have a few hours to spend just on Jesus and the Word. II feel very naive but only realized today watching Wendy’s video why the curtain tore when Jesus died. That’s amazing. Thank you again for your thoughts. Really having to completely trust Gods will.

Lori,
I am catching up on the post this morning as I was struggling with question 6. I will pray for you. I am requesting prayer too. In November my husband told me that he was no longer in love with me. I have been in counseling with a Christian counselor. I have my friends ( prayer warriors) praying. Even though this has been my darkest days I have seen God’s light. I am in his word daily growing stronger.

Please pray for us today. As we are going to a therapist. Sadly, to learn how to tell our three young daughters his plans to leave. Since my position is to seek help to save our marriage before taken this step I am only taking part to support the girls. He will have to tell them. Through counseling and Gods word I have Learned a lot.

My prayer request is that my husband will turn toward God and turn his heart back to me. So that we may begin to save this the gift of our family. Please lift us today in prayer.

Hi, Beth,
I am lifting you up to our Lord in prayer for you, your marriage, and your daughters. My heart aches for you all and I do pray that God’s will be done and that He will grant you peace and mercy in your time of need.
May the Lord hold you in his hand,
Susan

Beth, please let us know how your counseling visit went. We are praying in agreement with you for healing and reconciliation and for your husband’s heart to be turned back toward you, his family, and God’s will for your marriage. May the Lord remind him of the love he first felt for you and the wonderful times you had together as husband and wife.

Thank you Wendy. Hopefully this post will be read as I have not moved on to the next chapter. The meeting with the counselor was heartbreaking. However, my husband did not leave this weekend. He is seeking counseling for himself and we will go together. A divine intervention. Peace knowing my girls are ok. Please continue to pray for us. He is seeking counsel to see if staying at home is what he needs. So many unknowns right now. This Bible study is one of the many blessings from God during this most difficult time.

So thankful to hear your husband did not leave, Beth. Praying God will use this time to change His heart and turn it back to God, to you, and to his family. And I love knowing God is using this study to bless and encourage you during this difficult time.

Please update us and let us know how things are with you and your husband. Praying for you as we are praying for Beth…for healing and restoration in your marriage. Praying God will turn your husband’s heart back to you, to your family, and to God. Praying He will be your strength and comfort during this time.

Praying for you Beth. I have had my first session with a Christian counselllor as my husband will not go. Since Christmas, I have spent some time reflecting on my husband’s feedback and realized I have not been putting my role as a wife at the top of my priority list. So easy to get sucked into the daily demands of life! I am working on me and how I can be the wife God wants me to be. My husband seems to be opening up a bit but I’m walking on eggshells just wondering when/if he will move forward with his decision to leave. I’m constantly surrendering this situation to God – every time I try to speculate why this could be happening. Thank you for your prayers. It means alot.

Your pain is so similar to mine. Do not dwell on the past look forward. Continue your therapy and spend time in Gods word. Take care of yourself. I am going to send you my email if you would like to connect more. I have gotten all the kids off to school returning to God’s word. Started at 6:45 before the house was up. Now returning. Read Romans 8:28, Romans 8:31 and Luke 1:37. Are you familiar with the devotion book Jesus Calling? I use this in addition to our Hebrew study. Know that I will pray for you this morning.

Hi ladies~
Thanks for all the comments on verses 4-6. I really struggled with it!!!
I am hoping to post more on here as time allows..i get so much out of it, but work gets so busy I don’t have that much computer time to pop over and comment on everyone’s post.
But know that I do read them and they are a blessing:):)
Happy New Year!

Wendy,
Thanks so much for your time and explanation on Heb 6! I have always struggled with a fear that I may be one those who think that they are saved, but when Jesus comes, He won’t claim me as His. This section and the other verses have given me new hope that I am safe and Jesus isn’t finished with me yet. Although I have struggled with rebelling and turning back to old sin, Jesus constantly works in my life to call me back. I pray that I can develop self-control and perseverance and that He will continually bring to maturity. I also pray that He will renew my mind so that I am different because of His love.
Thanks so much for your guidance!
Susan

Good Morning all,
The more I study Hebrew’s and the other verses of Chapter 6 I have realized that who I am now is not because of me but because of Jesus. My faith, deeds, growth all are due to my surrending myself to Jesus. It is the hardest but most wonderful thing I have ever done.
I want and need the solid food of Jesus to continue on, it is what fills my soul so I can praise and give God even more of me. Thank you all for the posts and exposing God’s work in your lives.

Oh boy, I had to read and re-read the first question of 4 over and over again and it wasn’t making sense. Then when I finally realized it was Hebrews 6:4-6 you wanted us to reread and not Hebrews 4-6 totally, it makes more sense now. I had to step away and come back because I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t seeing it. I agree in that it says that you can’t lose your salvation, but it is possible to turn your back.

Maybe this will shed more light on verses 4-6. I found it very interesting and it answered my question.

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
-John 10:28 (NKJV)

CAN A SAVED PERSON EVER BE LOST? (Christian Answers.net)
That question takes on clearer focus if we first answer two other questions: (1) What does it mean to be lost? (2) What does it mean to be saved?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LOST?
Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). What does it mean to be a lost and guilty sinner in the eyes of God? Why is it that the non-Christian is under the wrath of God? (John 3:36)

The essential reason that we all were once lost and guilty sinners under the wrath of God was our relationship to sin—any lack of conformity to the character and will of God.
Are we sinners because we sin, or do we sin because we are sinners? Both are true. The Bible says that we are all guilty of personal acts and attitudes of sin (Romans 3:23; cf. 3:10-18; Mark. 7:20-23). It also indicates that we are guilty because we are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5), ultimately inherited from our ancestral father, Adam. The Bible even shows that all humankind is viewed by God as having sinned in Adam’s initial sin (Romans 5:12).

The penalty that is the result of our sin is death…
Physical death (the separation of the soul from the body), which affects humankind as the result of Adam’s sin charged to our account (Romans 5:12-14)

Spiritual death (the separation of the soul from God), a condition transmitted to us from Adam through our ancestors (Ephesians 2:1,5)

Eternal death (the culmination and extension of spiritual death), the eternal separation of the soul from God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14)

Scripture describes our condition before believing in Jesus Christ as being under the wrath of God:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
-John 3:36

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
“Salvation is from the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). It is both negative and positive (Colossians 1:13), for we are saved from a lost condition (our sins are forgiven), and we are brought into a saved condition that provides the believer with several dozen positive blessings the moment we trust Christ.

These blessings are very comprehensive, for our “salvation includes every divine undertaking for the believer from his deliverance out of the lost estate to his final presentation in glory conformed to the image of Christ.” [2] Paul declares that God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Some of the principal blessings of salvation include:

Regeneration, which is an instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit in originating a new nature in the believing sinner so as to transform the believer from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life (cf. John 3:5, 10:10,28; 1 John 5:11-12)

Justification, by which God declares the believer righteous since clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21-26)

Freed from the domain and dominion of sin (Romans 6:2-14)

Given as a gift from the Father to the Son (John 17:2-24)

Placed as a member in the spiritual body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13)
and many, many more positive acts of God that would have to be reversed if a saved person could ever again be lost.

CAN A SAVED EVER AGAIN BE LOST?

Can a Christian lose his salvation? Can a person once saved, having received God’s free gift of eternal life and having been born into the family of God, again return exactly and completely to the position of being a lost and guilty sinner in the eyes of God?

Of course not! The very nature of the spiritual life that has been received—eternal—and the Divine Source and Agent of that life—God—forbid drawing the conclusion that a saved person can ever again be lost.

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
-John 10:28 (NKJV)

This Biblical doctrine that a person who has received Jesus Christ, been born into the family of God, and justified by faith, can never again be lost is sometimes called eternal security. Others speak of it as the perseverance of the saints. The latter expression might better be termed the perseverance of God in behalf of the saints, because the security of our salvation does not rest on us but on God—it is based on the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.